My donation day

Those final weeks prior to my surgery went by more quickly than I anticipated. I was so anxious and excited, and couldn’t believe that the day had finally arrived. It’s like anything I guess… the wait seems soooo long and then BAM!, it’s over.

I was scheduled for a 6:00am surgery on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2010. This meant I needed yet again more blood work and final tests completed the day before the donation. My mother and sister served as my support crew, and we started the road trip early on that Monday so I could get settled into the hotel and begin my testing early.

My tests on the 21st were at 10am. It was only then that I was told I couldn’t eat again after 1:00 that day, so I ran down to the gift shop at the hospital and inhaled a banana and a granola bar immediately after they took the final blood draw.

Surgery of any kind, was new to me. I had been hospitalized only once in my life (would you believe for a kidney infection?), but was never exposed to anesthesia or any cutting and blood and guts and tubes and monitors and catheters. And bowel cleanser. Say what?

Refreshing, bubbly and calorie-free.

Yep, the rotgut in a bottle that’s supposed to clean your pipes. Tasted ok, but I’m pretty sure that a Big Mac, fries and a milkshake would have done the job just as well. So, I sipped on my cocktail that afternoon holed up in a seedy NY hotel, and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally at 3:00am, the magic happened.

I bounced into Weill-Cornell’s Transplant Center at 5am the next morning. As you can see from the photos, the Stimpson clan can’t possibly go anywhere without making our presence known. The nursing staff couldn’t have been more kind and comforting, and I felt a sense of relief with their playful personalities.

Breakin' all the rules at the transplant center reception.

More blood is drawn, IVs are shoved into what appears to be any available vein in both my arms, vitals are taken, my signature is slapped on yet another dozen or so documents and they give me this beautiful ensemble.

So purdy. So clinical.

Breakfast served, finally.

Dr. Leeser greets me, marks my belly and then proceeds to share with me his intention of getting a cup of coffee before he meets me in the O.R. “Hey chief, make it a decaf. Please?”

Members of the transplant surgical team slowly make their arrival and introduce themselves to me. A Dr. McDreamy look-alike comes in to the waiting room to get me and I begin my walk to the O.R.

Bye-bye.

Shortly after this photo was taken, I met the anesthesiologist and the entire team of doctors. I’m asked my name about 5 times and then they strap me down on the table. My last recollection is asking the anesthesiologist how he knows if he’s given his patients enough to hold them through the entire operation. Smart ass. He promptly told me, “Don’t worry about it”. The mask was placed over my mouth, and then I entered la-la land.